conrad and c



F. CONRAD AND C. AALBORG.

HAND GRENADE. APPLICATION FlLD OCT. a. ran.

m 1M m r m mm .m Vl Ef/ w a V0 A MU MOA M 3 C m 86 4mm m 3 flf. m 7 z T&

WITNESSES:

F. CONRAD AND C. AALBORG.

HAND GRENADE.

APPLICATSON men OCT. 3. m1.

Patented May 27, 1919. -2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a a w 4. W Z 5 c WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK CONRAI), OF PITTSBURGH, AND CHRISTIAN AALBORG, OF WILKINSBURG,PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTUR- INGCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

' HAND-GRENADE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 27, 1919.

Application filed October 8, 1917. Serial No: 194,444.

To all whom it may concern:

Be; it known that we, FRANK CONRAD, a citizen of the United States, anda residentof Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and- State ofPennsylvania, and CHRISTIAN v be conveniently assembled.

Another object of our invention is to provide a hand-grenade which isadapted to explode upon impact with any other body, regardless of theportion of its xternal surface which makes impact with suchbody.

'In the accompanyin drawing, Figure l is I a transverse sectional viewof a hand-grenade embodying our invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional viewalong the line II-II of Fig.1; Fig.3 is a sectional view along the line-'III-III of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view similar openings 2 and 3.

to Fig. lshowing a modification of my invention; Fig. is a sectionalview along the line VV of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, showinga modification of certain of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and Fig.7 is a detail view. 7

Referring to Fig. 1, the grenade comprises a hollow spherical casing orshell 1 that is provided with substantially circular.v coaxial A hollowcylindrical sleeve 4 is located within the c asingfl and is rovided witha reduced portion 5 that rests in an annular seat 6 which surroi nds theopening 3. The sleeve 4 is held within the casing 1 by a cap 7 that isin threaded engagement with the walls of the opening 2. The lower faceof the cap 7 is provided with an annular seat 8 within which is locateda reduced portion 9 of the sleeve 4.

The sleeve 4 is provided, at a point intermediate its ends, with ashoulder 10 upon which is seated a plate 11 that is provided with aplurality of evenly spaced openings 12. A firing plate 13 is locatedbelow the plate 11 .and is normally maintained in engagement therewithby a spring 14 that is located between it and a shoulder 15 with whichthe sleeve 4 is provided. The firing plate 13 is provided with aplurality of upwardly projecting lugs 17 which register with, andproject through, the openings 12 in the plate 11 and with a centrallylocated and downwardly projecting pin 18. The reduced portion 5 of thesleeve 4 is internally threaded to receive a cartridge holder 19 uponwhich is mounted a detonating cartridge 2O. The cartridge 20 ispreferably of the centerfire type and its top is located adjacent to,and

spaced from, the pin 18. The walls of the reduced portion 5 and of thecartridge holder 19 may be provided with alined openings 21 and 22,respectively, which constitute ignition passages between the cartridge20 and an explosive mixture ,24 that fills the space between the casing1 and the sleeve-4. If the walls of the portion 5 and the cartridgeholder are reasonably thin, the openings 21 and may be omitted. Astriking member 25 is slidably mounted within the sleeve 4 and is biasedtoward the firing plate 13 by a helical spring 26 that is locatedbetween the rim of the striking member 25 and the cap 7. The member 25is provided with an eccentrically disposed opening 27 within which islocated a latching member, here shown as a spindle 28. The spindle 28 isprovided. at its lower end,

with a tapered portion 29, the point of which is seated in a depression30 in the plate 11 that registers with the depression in the firingplate 13. A hollow cylindrical weight 31 is pivotally mounted within thestriking member 25 upon a pin 32 that is seated within an externalgroove 33. The spindle 28 is provided with a reduced portion 34 abovethe tapered portion 29 that is partially located within the opening 27.A pin 35 is located at oneside of the opening 27 and engages theshoulder on the spindle 28 that is formed by the reduced portion 34,thus maintaining the striking member 25 out of engagement with the lugs17 of the firing plate 13. A safety pin 36 extends through an opening 37in the cap 7 and projects into a recess 38 in the spindle 28. The pin 36serves to hold the spindle 28 coaxially with respect to the sleeve 4.The pin 36 is provided with a head 39 that is located within a recess 40provided. in the cap 7. The pin 36 is adapted to be forced out of therecess ample, as spring steel.

38 by a spring 41 that is located between the head 39 and bottom of therecess 40. The pin 36 is adapted to be retained in the recess 40 by astrap 42 that is secured, at one end, to the outside of the casing bywelding or other suitable means, as shown at 43. The strap 42 ispreferably composed of inherently resilient material, such, for ex- Theother end of the strap 42 is-held against the surface of the casing at apoint adjacent to the safety pin 36 by a cotter pin 44 coacting with alug 45 that is secured to the shell 1. The strap 42 is adapted to holdthe safety pm 36 1n position as long as the cotter pin 44 engages theend thereof. When the cotter pm 44 is withdrawn, the strap 42 springsaway from the surface of the shell 1, as it tends to straighten out, andallows the safety pm 36 to leave the recess 40.

It will be noted that the recess 38in the spindle 28 is of greaterdiameter than the opening 37 in the cap 7. A ball 68 1s located in therecess 38 and a spring 69 is interposed between the ball and the bottomof the recess. So long as the safety pin 36 is held in position, theball 68 is depressed, as indicated in the drawing, but when the safetypin is withdrawn, the spring 69 will force the ball 68 partially intothe opening 37. In this position, the ball 68 can be displaced only bydistinct shocks and not by any gyratory motion, such as might beimparted to the handgrenade.as it leaves the thrower, which increasesthe factor of safety against displacement of the spindle 28 before thehand-grenade reaches its objective.

The above described ball and spring structure was not invented by us,but is set forth and claimed in the copending application of HQP. Davis,Serial No. 203,534, filed November 23, 1917, and assigned to theWestinghouse ,Electric and Manufacturing Company.

In assembling the parts of a hand-grenade constructed in accordance withour invention, the sleeve-4 is provided with the parts 11, 13 and 14, asindicated in Fig. 1, and is then inserted in the shell 1, with itsbottom restin on the seat 6. The member 25 is then p aced within thesleeve 4, with its bottom resting on the lugs 17, after which the sindle 28 isinserted through the opening 27 and its point seated in thedepression 30. The sprin 26 is then placed within the sleeve 4, with itsbottom turn resting against the rim of the member 25. The cap 7 is thenplaced over the end of the spring 26 and is screwed into the opening 2,at the same time, compressing the spring. The spring 41 is then'placedin the recess 40. and the safety pin 36 is inserted in the. recess 38,after manipulating the shell 1 to cause the opening 37 and the recess 38to register with each other, it being, of course, understood applied tothe rod 46 to force the member 25 upwardly against the pressure of thespring 26 until the pin 35 engages the shoulder at the lower end of thereduced portion 34 of the spindle 28, thus latching the member 25 inposition. The shell 1 may be filled with explosive material 24 through asuitable opening in its side that may be closed by a screw plug 49,after the filling operation is completed, as indicated, after which thegrenade may be shipped without danger of premature explosion. In casethe openings 21 and 22 are provided, the latter may be closed eitherinteriorly or exteriorly, by any suitable thin material, beforeintroducing the explosive material 24.

When it is desired to use the grenade, the cartridge holder 19, havingthe cartridge 20 seated therein, is screwed into the reduced portion 5of the sleeve 4. The grenade is then ready to be thrown but it isobvious that the member 25 cannot be released so long as the safety pin36 maintains the spindle 28 in coaxial relation with the sleeve 4.

Just prior to throwing the grenade, the thrower grasps the shell 1, withhis hand extending around the band 42, and then removes the cotter pin44. The grenade is then thrown and, as it leaves the hand, the

strap 42 springs outwardly and allows the spring 41 to force the safetypin 36 out of the recess 40; Since the pivotally mounted weight 31 is inunstable equilibrium, when the flight of the grenade is arrested fromany cause whatsoever, the shock resulting from the impact throws theweight 31 in some direction about the pin 32 and disengages the spindle28 from the pin 35. It will be noted that, if the shock causes theweight 31 to move in a" direction away from the pin 35, the portion ofthe weight 31 above the pivot 32 will move in a counterclockwisedirection to engage the spindle 28 and force it off the pin 35. If,however, the

of the detonating cartridge- 20 passthrough the ppenings 21 and 22 andignite the exploslve mixture 24, whereby the casing 1 is shattered withdestructive effects, or, if the openings 21 and 22 are omitted, theexplosion of the cartridge will shatter the adjacent wall and ignite theexplosive material 24 in a like manner.

casing or shell 1 is provided with an inwardly projecting flange 50. Acup-shaped member 51, preferably composed of relatively light pressedmetal, is supported by the flange 50 and is held Within the casing 1 bythe cap 7. The bottomof the member 51 is provided with a centrallylocated opening 52 and the opening 3 in the shell 1 is internallythreaded to receive a holder 19 upon which is mounted a detonatingcartridge 20. The cartridge 20 is preferably of the center-fire type,with its firing portion located immediately under the opening .52. Theupper portion of the flange 50 may be provided with openings 53 whichcommunicate with the chamber in which is located the explosive mixtures24, or if the portion 50 is made comparatively thin and in reasonablyclose proximity to the cartridge 20, the openings 53 may be omitted,

inasmuch as the force exerted by the explosion of the cartridge chargewill be suffi-' cient to shatter the part 50 and, consequently, toignite the material within the shell 1. If the openings 53 are provided,they maybe covered by any suitable thin material in order to prevent theexplosive material from escaping therethrough.

A striking member, comprising a pin 54 and a disk 56, is located withinthe member 51 and is provided, at its lower end, with a firing pin 55which is adapted to enter the opening 52. The striking member is biasedtoward the cartridge 20 by a spiral spring 57 that is located betweenthe disk 56 and the cap 7. The pin 54 is further provided with a groove58 which is located within an eccentrically disposed recess 59 in thecap 7. A hollow cylindrical weight 60 surrounds the pin 54 and'is alsopartially located in the recess 59. A pin 61 projects from the wall ofthe recess 59 through an opening 62 in the weight 60 and engages thegroove 58 of the pin 54, thus maintaining the striking member in itsretracted position. The projecting' portion-of the pin 61 is preferablyof frusto-conical form, for a purpose that will hereinafter bedescribed. A safety pin 36 projects into a recess 63 that is provided inthe pin 54 and serves to hold the pin coaxially with respect to themember 51. The cap 7 is provided witha laterally extending annularfiange64 which is engaged by the bent-over portion 65 of a strap 66, the otherend of which is secured to the easing 1, in the same manner as the strap42 of Fig. 1. When the cotter pin 44 is withdrawn, the strap 66 springsaway from the casing and the portion 65 is disengaged from the flange64.

The assembly of the parts shownin Fig. I

4 is substantially the same as described with reference to Fig. 1, thedisk 56 being forced inwardly against the action of the spring In themodification shown in Fig. 4, the

57 until the end of the pin 61 engages the groove 58 of the pin 51. Theweight 60 is adapted to disengage the striking member from the pin 61insubstantially the manner described'with reference to the structure shownin Fig 1. On'account of the conical form of the locking end of the pin61, any shock that tends to move the weight 60 in substantally thedirection of the axis of the pin 54, as well as in other directions,will cause it to move along the conical surface of the pin and-sorelease the striking member. The grenade is thus sure to be exploded byan impact which tends to move the weight 60 in any direction whatsoever.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the safety pin'36 is provided witha hollow cylindrical cap 67, the outer surface of which makesa close fitwith the walls of the recess 40[ As the cylindrical surfaces are inclose engagement, there will be dash-pot action as the spring 41 forcesthe cap outwardly, thereby allowing. an appreciable time to elapsebefore the safety pin 36 is entirely withdrawn from the recess 38. Thedashpot action may be increased bytreating the engaging surfaces withsome suitable material to increase the adhesion therebetween. With sucha modification, the strap 39 may be dispensed with. By thismodification, the factor of safety against premature expilosion of thehand-grenade is increased, as the dash-pot action insures that thegretrade will be a considerable distance away from the thrower beforethe safetypin is withdrawn.

While .we have shown our invention in several simple and preferredforms, it is not so limited but is susceptible of various othermodifications within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A hand-grenade comprising a casing, a percussive striking meanslocated within said casing, means for normally latching said strikingmeans in. a retracted position and acylindrical weight having a singlepoint of support from which it is bodily unstriking member and means forlatching said member in a retracted position, of a tripping membersupported in unstable equilibrium at a single point adjacent to saidlatching means and being bodily displaced when the grenade is arrestedby-im act.

4. In a hand-grenade, the combination with a percussive firing devicecomprising a striking member and means for latching said member in aretracted position, ofa tripping member supported at a single pointadjacent to said striking member and being unseated and bodily displacedto release said striking member when the grenade is arrested by impact.

5. In a hand-grenade, the combination with a percussive firing devicecomprising a striking member and means for maintaining said member in aspring stressed position, of a tripping member supported at a singlepoint adjacent to said maintaining means and being bodily displaceableto release said striking member when movement of the grenade is arrestedby impact.

6. In a hand-grenade, the combination with a percussive firing devicecomprising a striking member, a pivotally mounted latching member formaintaining said striking member in a spring stressed position, of atripping member having a single support at one side from which it isbodily displaced to shift said latching member upon its pivot toreleasesaid striking member.

7. In a hand-grenade, the combination with a percussive firing'devicecomprising a striking member, a pivotally mounted latching member formaintaining said striking member in a spring stressed position, of atripping member having a single support I at one side and being sorelated to said latching member that movement thereof in any directionon or from its support shifts said latching member upon its pivot torelease said striking member.

8. In a hand-grenade, the combination with a percussive firing devicecomprising a spring, a striking member, a pivotally 1 mounted latchingpin for maintaining said striking member in a spring-compressingposition, of a tripping member surrounding said latching pin and looselysupported at one side of said pin, whereby movement of said 'member inany direction shifts said latching pin upon its pivot to releasesaidstriking member.

9. A percussive firing device for, a handgrenade comprising a sleeve, astationary plate located intermediate the ends of the member biasedtoward said sleeve, a firin plate and having portions projectingtherethrough, a striking member located within said sleeve, means forholdin said striking member in a retracted position and means forforcing said striking member against the projecting portions of saidfiring member when released.

10. A percussive firing device for a hand grenade comprising a sleeve, astationary plate located intermediate the ends of the sleeve, a firingmember biased toward said plate and having portions projectingtherethrough, a striking member located within said sleeve, means forforcing said striking member against the projecting portions of saidfiring member, and a latching member for normally holding said strikingmember out of engagement with said firing member.

11. A percussive firing means for a hand-' grenade comprising a sleeve,a stationary plate located intermediate the ends of the sleeve, a firingmember biased toward said plate and having portions projectingtherethrough, a striking member located within said-sleeve, means forforcing said striking member against the projecting portions of saidfiring member and a pivotally mounted latching member located withinsaid sleeve for normally holding said striking member out of engagementwith said firing member.

12. A percussive firing means'for a handgrenade comprising a cylindricalsleeve, a stationary plate located intermediate the ends of the sleeve,a firing member biased toward said plate and having portions projectingtherethrough, a striking member located within said sleeve, means forforcing said striking member against the projecting portions of saidfiring member and a pivotally mounted latching member coaxial with thesleeve for normally holding said striking member out of engagement withsaid firing member.

13. A percussive firing means for a handgrenade comprising a cylindricalsleeve, a

stationary plate located intermediate the 14. A percussive firing meansfor a hand, grenade comprising a cylindrical sleeve, a

stationary plate located intermediate the ends of the sleeve, a firingmember biased toward said plate and having portions projectingtherethrough, a striking member 10- cated within said sleeve, means forforcing said striking member against the pro ecting portionsof saidfiring member, a pivotally mounted latching member coaxial with thesleeve for normally holding said striking member, and a sa ety memberfor maintaining the latching member in coaxial relation with saidsleeve.

15. A percussive firing means for a handgrenade comprising a cylindricalsleeve, a stationary plate located intermediate the ends of the sleeve,a firing member biased toward said plate and having portions projectingtherethrough, a striking member located within said sleeve, means forforcing said striking member against the projecting portions of saidfiring member, a pivotally mounted latching member coaxial with thesleeve for normally holding said striking member out of enfgagement withsaid firing member, and a sa ety'member for maintaining the latchingmember in coaxial relation to the sleeve, the said safety member beingadapted to be Withdrawn from said latching member with a retardedaction. I

16. A percumive firing means for a handgrenade comprising a cylindricalsleeve, a stationary plate located intermediate the ends of the sleeve,a firing member biased toward said plate and having portions projectingtherethrough, a striking member 10- cated within said sleeve, means forforcing said striking member against the projecting portions of saidfiring member, a pivotally mounted locking member coaxial with thesleeve for normally holding said striking member out of engagement withsaid firing member, and a safety member for maintaining the lockingmember in coaxial relation to the sleeve, the said safety member beingadapted to be withdrawn from said locking member with a dash-pot action.

vIn testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 14thday of Sept, 191

FRANK CONRAD. CHRISTIAN AALBORG.

